looking for large fruited RED opuntia

[starling1]

Thornless would be ideal. Fruit must be red. Buying.

cheers
s

[Rannman]

Thornless would be ideal. Fruit must be red. Buying.

cheers

Will split expenses with you if you can get your hands on the red.

[starling1]

Thornless would be ideal. Fruit must be red. Buying.

cheers

Will split expenses with you if you can get your hands on the red.

Deal.

[nullzero]

Something like this? I saved some seeds.

Picked these up from a fruit stand today in Stuart, FL. Got about 8 Large ones for $3, genetically they seem to be mixed, perhaps collected from a semi wild patch (since this is a minor crop in FL)?


This one had a beet red flesh hard seeds with moderate amount of seeds. Sweet flavor with a hint of banana taste.


The second one had magenta flesh, hard seeds slightly smaller. Sweet with somewhat raspberry flavor, acidic component to taste especially the off white areas of the flesh.

[MassSpectrum]

They're in heavy supply around here, in the right places. Last year I was disappointed with my germ rates, many the fruits I brought home and opened right up and set to slime. This year I'm letting them basically liquify from whole to eliminate doubt. If those dont sprout too well for you I can slide you some power-ups.

You dont ever bother with the seeds from the selections you have?

[nullzero]

They're in heavy supply around here, in the right places. Last year I was disappointed with my germ rates, many the fruits I brought home and opened right up and set to slime. This year I'm letting them basically liquify from whole to eliminate doubt. If those dont sprout too well for you I can slide you some power-ups.

You dont ever bother with the seeds from the selections you have?

Just save the seeds of decent fruit, for trades or sharing. I may not germinate, I may focus on germinating crosses of the selections in the future. Nothing wowed me about the fruits they were average and worth growing for fruit. I may need those powerups for some other cacti seeds I have.

[starling1]

Managed to get 4 cuttings of different mexican reds, all commercial crops with small fine seeds.

[MassSpectrum]

Here's some opuntia seed sprouting discussion very worthwhile:
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=52048

[Felipe]

I currently have three types of red fruits:

Opuntia sp.: Very fast growing and very productive. It does have spines, but the fruit is very tasty, different from the tipical prickly pear taste. The negative thing is that the frut size is rather small.



Opuntia robusta (?): Huge sized fruit. I think the taste is rather watery, but my brother liked them a lot.



I also have a red O. ficus-indica which are very tasty. I can send you some pads or maybe some seeds next summer

[Luisport]

I currently have three types of red fruits:

Opuntia sp.: Very fast growing and very productive. It does have spines, but the fruit is very tasty, different from the tipical prickly pear taste. The negative thing is that the frut size is rather small.



Opuntia robusta (?): Huge sized fruit. I think the taste is rather watery, but my brother liked them a lot.



I also have a red O. ficus-indica which are very tasty. I can send you some pads or maybe some seeds next summer

Very nice! Congratulations Felipe! 

[starling1]

I currently have three types of red fruits:

Opuntia sp.: Very fast growing and very productive. It does have spines, but the fruit is very tasty, different from the tipical prickly pear taste. The negative thing is that the frut size is rather small.



Opuntia robusta (?): Huge sized fruit. I think the taste is rather watery, but my brother liked them a lot.



I also have a red O. ficus-indica which are very tasty. I can send you some pads or maybe some seeds next summer

Fruit of the red and maroon O ficus indica are the best I've ever had. Apparently the giant o is as you say--rather bland. I have opuntia compressa which apparently produces pink fruit, but mine has not fruited yet.